National Monitoring of Medication-Related Quality of Care in Residential Aged Care: Is Australia Making Progress?

In 2018, the Australian Government established a Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.1 Recommendations from the final report in 2021 included national monitoring of quality of care in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) and the need to improve medication-related care to reduce medication-related harms and improve resident well-being.1 Over the past decade, the health status of those entering RACFs in Australia has worsened, together with increased frailty and polypharmacy.2 Studies have shown that 44% to 73% of RACF residents use 1 or more potentially inappropriate medications, including high-risk medications such as opioids and antipsychotics.